Semester Start-up | Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation

Prepare for the semester ahead with a suite of workshops designed to support your teaching, spark new ideas, and set you up for success in the classroom! Semester start-up workshops for faculty focus on actionable preparation, including syllabus design, inclusive pedagogy, artificial intelligence integration, and leveraging tools like our learning management system.

Read more below to find out what sessions we host that will help you build community, plan effectively, and set an intentional tone for the semester.

Learn More and Register

When registration opens for these workshops, it will be available online: bookings.lib.msu.edu/calendar/CTLI

Additionally, we encourage you to sign up for the CTLI newsletter to learn about upcoming opportunities.

Plan-a-thon

The Plan-a-thon is a day dedicated to preparing for the fall semester. During the event, you will have the opportunity to meet with CTLI team members and MSU IT consultants, work alone, collaborate on course planning or syllabus writing, and attend optional workshops. Stay for the whole day, a part of the day, or come and go as you're able.

This workshop is typically held in August in the CTLI space on the second floor of the main Library.

Designing Your MSU Syllabus: Resources and Tips for Creating Syllabi that Meet Students' Needs

In this interactive session, participants will learn all about syllabi at MSU. Topics include syllabus design, requirements and policies, considerations for more inclusive syllabi, MSU resources and templates, and alternative syllabus formats, including a demonstration of an annotated syllabus model. The session will conclude with a facilitated discussion and question period

This workshop is typically held in August, offering both in-person and virtual participation options.

Setting the Tone from the Start

In this workshop, CTLI Educator Developers share actionable strategies that lay the groundwork for an engaging and inclusive course experience from day one. This includes items related to syllabi, expectation setting, pedagogical transparency, checking in on learner needs throughout the term, and ways to build a sense of classroom community.

This workshop is typically held in August, offering both in-person and virtual participation options.

Introduction to Creating Effective Assessments

This workshop introduces educators to core strategies for designing effective assessments that support student learning and course goals. Participants will explore various types of assessments, evaluate their alignment with learning objectives, and compare approaches based on course context, including discipline, size and level. The session will also address the emerging role of generative AI in assessment design, offering insights into both challenges and opportunities in today’s evolving educational landscape.

This workshop is typically held in August, offering both in-person and virtual participation options.